How to Change a Tire Safely & Quickly

A flat tire never happens when it's convenient. You'll be all dressed up and on the way to an important event when you run over that errant nail. Changing a tire by the side of the road was a regular event for motorists in the first half of the last century, but with modern tires you may never have had the pleasure of this adventurous experience. Even if you already know how, here's a refresher with some helpful tips to make it less of an ordeal.

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Step 1: Be Prepared

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Planning ahead will save a lot of frustration. It's not a bad idea to keep an emergency kit in your trunk and disposable, but sturdy Tyvek overalls will help keep your dry cleaning bills down. Throw in some mechanics gloves, a good waterproof flashlight, hand cleaner, and paper towels. Believe it or not, all that, plus wheels chocks, flares, tire gauge and tire sealant all fit into this shallow Rubbermaid bin. The lid can double as something to kneel on. Since flat tires happen year round, you can even fit in a collapsible snow shovel.

Step 2: Location, Location, Location

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You want to choose your tire changing place very carefully. Once on the shoulder, slowly driving to the next exit ramp may give you enough space needed to stay away from the main flow of traffic.

Step 3: Not Enough Room

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The line separating traffic from you on the shoulder is not an invisible force field. This example is not enough room, the car is leaning and the ramp is going uphill. You will a need level, solid surface to jack up a car safely.

Step 4: Be Aware of Traffic

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Turn on your four-way flashers. Using flares or reflective triangles will help give a long range warning that a disabled car is ahead. This is especially important at night or in the rain. Always be aware of on rushing traffic, especially heavy trucks that create a suction in their wake that can pull you off your feet.

Step 5: Give Yourself Room

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Be sure you have enough room around the flat rear tire to work safely. Keep the doors closed. A truck's wake can blow them suddenly wide open and damage the hinges.

Step 6: Set Your Parking Brake

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Set your parking brake. Blocking the diagonally opposite wheel will help keep the car from rolling once the flat tire is up in the air. If you don't have a wheel chock, you can improvise with some suitable object found by the side of the road.

Step 7: Check the Spare

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Check the spare tire and tools. If your spare is flat or essential tools are missing, there's no sense in continuing. You were prepared so your flat kit is fully stocked and ready to go. Remove jack and lug wrench.

Step 8: Use Your Owner's Manual

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Your owners manual has all the vehicle specific instructions and pictures of where everything is located. It's not a bad idea to copy the tire change page instructions (double sided) and laminate them. A plastic kitchen magnet can hold them in a place easily viewed while working.

Step 9: Pry Off the Hub Cap

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Use the sharp end of the lug wrench to pry off hub cap. Some cars have hub caps with false lugs that secure the hub cap or are just for decoration. It's a good idea to become familiar with your type of wheel fasteners before you are in an emergency situation.

Step 10: Remove the Hub Cap

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Remove the hub cap and set it on the ground upside-down to use as a tray for the lug nuts.

Step 11: Loosen Lugs

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Lugs will need to be loosened prior to lifting vehicle.

Step 12: You May Need an Adapter

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You may have one lug that requires a special "key" adapter.

Step 13: Insert Key Lock Adapter

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Insert key lock adapter.

Step 14: Use Your Floor Mat

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Loosen the key lock. Here's a tip: You can use your floor mat to kneel on. Flip it over so the dirty side is on the ground.

Step 15: Remove Lock

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Remove lock.

Step 16: Place Lock in Hub Cap

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Place lock in hub cap. Loosen all the other lug nuts. You'll put all the lug nuts in the hub cap or other suitable clean place so you don't lose them. You also don't want to get dirt or grit in the threads.

Step 17: Locate the Pinch Flange

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On most unit body construction cars, the pinch flange is the strongest part of the car for lifting purposes. Most cars have a notch that fits the factory jack. Consult your owner manual for lifting locations. Lifting a car at the wrong spot can damage the car and endanger you if it's unstable.

Step 18: Position Jack

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Position jack under jacking location.

Step 19: Raise the Vehicle

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Raise the vehicle slowly by turning the jack handle clockwise. You'll want enough height to not only remove the flat tire, but be able to install the fully inflated spare.

Step 20: Remove the Tire

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Remove the remaining, already loosened lug nuts and remove the flat tire. Just pull, but be careful! It may be heavy.

Step 21: Remove Spare

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Remove spare from the trunk or inside a rear panel on some minivans.

Step 22: Pickups and SUVs

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On many pickups and SUV's the spare is suspended under the rear the truck. There is a center nut that holds the spare up. Direction to loosen is shown. On some there is a manual cable "winch" that lowers the spare down. Consult your owners manual for details on operation.

Step 23: Install the Spare

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Install spare by lining up wheel studs with holes.

Step 24: Finger Tighten the Lugs

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You may need to use your foot to hold spare in place while you thread the lugs on. Just finger tighten until snug. You should NOT attempt to tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench while the wheel is in the air. The wheel may merely rotate or could cause the car to fall off the jack.

Step 25: Lower the Car

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Carefully lower the car by turning the jack handle counter-clockwise.

Step 26: Tighten the Lugs

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Once the car is down you can tighten the lugs. Tighten them clockwise in a crisscross pattern. Your owners manual will show the correct sequence. Failure to tighten the lugs properly is potentially unsafe.

Step 27: Your Spare is Now Installed

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Your spare is now installed. Note that these "space saver" tires are temporary spares. Do not exceed the speed label on the sidewall (usually 50 mph) and drive carefully. Because a temporary spare does not have the same handling characteristics and longevity as your regular tire, get your full size flat tire repaired or replaced right away.

Step 28: Remove the Jack

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Be sure to remember to remove jack and stow in trunk. Look around and pick up your tools, hubcap, emergency kit, and everything else.

Step 29: Stow Flat in the Trunk

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Place the flat, tools and kit in trunk.

Step 30: Reinstall Hub Cap

After you get a new tire mounted on your wheel, reinstall wheel and re-install hub cap. Put spare back in trunk. Secure jack and tools.

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